Deceased: Sir Peter Morrison, Sir Leon Brittan and Sir Peter Hayman have all been named in the documents

In the bombshell letter written in 1986, MI5 boss Sir Antony Duff revealed two sources had accused an MP of child abuse.

But he told Cabinet Secretary Sir Robert Armstrong he accepted the MP’s denials, adding: “At the present stage… the risks of political embarrassment to the Government is rather greater than the security danger.”

In a letter released today, the Cabinet Office admitted: “The risk to children is not considered
at all.”

Manchester Evening News

Simon Danczuk MP

Labour MP Simon Danczuk said tonight the papers show “the full weight of the British establishment, including MI5, colluded in a cover-up to protect politicians who sexually abused young boys”.

Labour MP Tom Watson accused the Government of “sneaking out” the papers the day after Parliament’s summer recess began.

He said it meant MPs could not “scrutinise properly” documents nor “hold ministers to account”.

Sky News said tonight the documents have been shared with the police and will be passed to the Child Abuse Inquiry.